Holder for supporting leg



June 4, 1963 E. WASSERSTROM 3,

HOLDER FOR SUPPORTING LEG Filed July 20, 1961 mmmmw" 1- INVENTOR.

EMIL WASSERSTROM E/m f WM United States Patent 3,092,406 HOLDER FOR SUPPORTlNG LEG Emil Wasserstrom, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to N. Wassirgti'iriam & Sons, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation 0 0 Filed July 20, 1961, Ser. No- 125,500 2 Claims. (Cl. 287-20) The present invention relates to a holder for a supporting leg. More particularly, the present invention relates to a holder for mounting a leg on the underside of a sink or the like.

In commercial sinks and other similar commercial constructions such as food tables, food lockers, and cabinets, the component parts thereof are normally fabricated of metal. The supporting legs for these articles which are also formed of tubular metal are usually secured to a holder of some form that is welded or riveted to the underside of the article at a corner thereof. Prior to the instant invention, the supporting legs were telescopically received within a holder and were securely fixed therein by a set screw or the like. Although this type of leg construction was structurally satisfactory the set screw had a tendency to loosen which resulted in the leg moving Within the holder. Moreover, the opening through which the set screw extended provided access for vermin and bacteria which tended to accumulate within the tubular leg. The set screw construction further detracted from the appearance of the assembly and contrasted with the clean lines normally associated with modern food equipment.

The present invention avoids the inherent defects in the prior known leg holder devices and includes a modern appearing tubular body member or housing that is secured directly to the underside of the sink or the like. Positioned within the housing is a gripping member that is formed with a plurality of gripping spring fingers between which the tubular support leg extends. The spring fingers frictionally engage the support leg and act to firmly retain it in the position of use thereof. Since there are no additional external securing means employed, a clean modern design is produced that is not only sanitary in that it is vermin and bacteria proof, but that further complements the modern appearance of the complete article.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a leg holder for a sink or the like that includes means for frictionally mounting a supporting leg therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder or support for securing a leg to the underside of a sink or the like wherein all external fastening elements are eliminated.

Still another object is to provide a leg holder that includes an internal gripping member, the internal gripping member being formed with a split sleeve having locating flanges joined thereto, and resilient mounting fingers depending therefrom.

Still another object is to provide a leg holder fora sink or the like that includes a bell-shaped housing in which a gripping member is positioned for frictionally retaining the leg in position therein.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a metal sink to the underside of which the leg holders embodied in the present invention are secured.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the leg holder embodied herein showing the attachment of the tubular 3,092,405 Patented June 4, 1963 housing thereof to the underside of a leg and further showing a portion of a support leg projecting from said housing.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 44 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines '5-5 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective of the gripping member that is positioned within the tubular housing of the leg holder.

Although the leg holder embodied herein is intended for use with a metallic sink or similar article, it is understood, that the use thereof is not limited to sinks nor to articles fabricated of only metallic materials.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, one form of a commercial sink construction is illustrated and is generally indicated at 10-. The sink 10 is normally fabricated of galvanized steel, although other materials may be utilized, and includes a compartment 12 to which a back splash wall 14 is secured, the backsplash wall '14 defining a part of the compartment 12. A drainboa-rd 16 is joined to the compartment 12 and backsplash wall 14 and is supported in position by an arm 18. Secured to the underside of the compartment 12 at the corners thereof are leg holders generally indicated 20 one of which will be described in detail hereinafter. Projecting downwardly from each leg holder 20 and secured therein is a leg 22 on the lowermost end of which are mounted adjustable feet 24, which form no part of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the leg holder 20 is illustrated in detail and as shown includes a tubular metallic body portion or housing 26 that is substantially bell shaped in configuration. The bell-shaped tubular housing 26 is defined by an upper portion 28 that terminates at the upper edge thereof in an out turned rim 30, the rim 30 being welded directly to the bot-tom wall of the compartment 12 at a corner thereof. Joined integrally to the upper portion 28 is a lower portion 32 that is reduced in diameter with respect thereto and that terminates at the lower end thereof in an inturned lip 34.

Located within the housing 26 is a gripping member generally indicated at 36 and that is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 6. The gripping member 36 is formed in a one piece construction of spring metal and includes a sleeve 38 that is split to define adjacent edges 40 and 42. In order to centrally locate the gripping member 36 Within the housing 26 and to frictionally retain it within the upper portion 28 thereof, a plurality of L-shaped flanges 44 are provided and are secured to the sleeve 38. The outwardly extending portion of each flange 44 projects radially with respect to the sleeve 38 and engages the inner surface of the upper portion 28 to centrally locate the sleeve 38 therein. Since the sleeve 38 is split, there is a flexing movement thereof when the gripping member is inserted into the housing 26 and the flanges 44 are pushed inwardly along the inner surface of the upper portion 28. The gripping member 36 is thus frictionally secured in position within the housing 20, and as will be described, this frictional engagement is supplemented by an additional frictional securement of a plurality of spring fingers 46 with the leg 22 The spring fingers 46 are integrally joined to the split sleeve 38 and depend therefrom in spaced relation. Each of the spring fingers 46 has an outwardly formed section 48 that engages the inner surface of the lower portion 32 of the housing 26, and inwardly projecting portions 50 and 52 that are adapted to engage the outer surf-ace of the tubular leg 22 in frictional engagement therewith. It is seen that when the leg 22 is assembled with the leg holder 20, the inwardly projecting portions 50, 52 of each spring finger bears thereagainst in frictional engagement while the outwardly formed section 48 of each spring finger frictionally engages the lower portion 32 of the housing 26. The spring fingers 46 thus cooperate with'the flanges 44 to secure the, gripping member 36 within the holder 20 and further cooperate with the sleeve 38 to secure the leg 22 in engagement therewith.

in assembling the holder 20, the gripping member is located within the housing 26 and the outturned rim 30 is then welded to the bottom wall of the compartment. The tubular leg 22 is next inserted in the housing 26 and is forced inwardly therein. The spring fingers 46 are sufiiciently flexible to enable the tubular leg to be assembled in the housing 26 but as the tubular leg is driven upwardly to the position as shown in FIG. 3, the spring fingers will tightly engage the leg 22 to secure it in the position of use thereof.

The assembled leg holder is completely sanitary, being vermin and bacteria proof since there are no openings in the housing wall for receiving adjustive screws or the like. In this connection, the inturned lip 34 of the lower housing portion 32 that is proportioned to slidably receive the leg 22 therebetween, further prevents access of vermin to the interior of the leg holder. It is moreover seen, that the clean appearing design of the leg complements the modern design of the sink construction to which it is secured.

While there is shown and described herein specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a holder for securing a leg to the underside of a sink or the like, a bell-shaped tubular housing the of said housingfor centrally locating said gripping memher therein, and a plurality of spring fingers joined to said sleeve and depending therefrom, said leg extending between said fingers and through said split sleeve and being frictionally retained in said housing by the engagement of said spring fingers therewith.

2. In a holder for a supporting leg, a tubular housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion being reduced in diameter with respect to that of said upper portion, a gripping member positioned in said tubular housing and including a split sleeve located in said upper portion and having a plurality of radially extending spaced flanges formed thereon, a plurality of spring fingers joined to said split sleeve and depending therefrom, said spring fingers being located in said lower portion and being urged inwardly due to the reduced diameter thereof, said supporting leg extending between said spring fingers and through said split sleeve and being firmly retained within said housing by the frictional engagement of said spring fingers therewith. 

1. IN A HOLDER FOR SECURING A LEG TO THE UNDERSIDE OF A SINK OR THE LIKE, A BELL-SHAPED TUBULAR HOUSING THE LARGER END OF WHICH IS FIXED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID SINK AT A CORNER THEREOF, A GRIPPING MEMBER POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND INCLUDING A SPILT SLEEVE THAT IS LOCATED WITHIN THE LARGER PORTIONS THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF SPACER ELEMENTS JOINED TO SAID SLEEVE AND BEING DEFINED BY RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGES THAT ENGAGE THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID HOUSING FOR CENTRALLY LOCATING SAID GRIPPING MEMBER THEREIN, AND A PLURALITY OF SPRING FINGERS JOINED TO SAID SLEEVE AND DEPENDING THEREFROM, SAID LEG EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FINGERS AND THROUGH SAID SPILT SLEEVE AND BEING FRICTIONALLY RETAINED IN SAID HOUSING BY THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID SPRING FINGERS THEREWITH 